Our Impact: Current Students Tell Their Stories

Celebration of Leadership ~ May 8, 2010

Thank you to everyone who attended and donated to our 14th annual Celebration of Leadership this year! More than 400 people were inspired by the youth, our keynote speakers and this year's theme, Carry Your Activism With You. Check out our photos here.

Keynote Speaker, Tammy Baldwin

"Since the days of the Stonewall riots in 1969, we’ve moved so much closer to LGBT equality in this country, yet we’re faced with painful reminders of how much further we must go to change hearts and minds – from the halls of the Pentagon to a high school prom in Mississippi."
Read more.

Celebration of Leadership Awards
Scholarship Recipients
Marcus Etten - Elkhorn Area High School
Brinae Gaudet - West Bend West High School
Samantha Kenison - Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln High School
Brandon Wenger - Monroe High School

Judi Devereux Community Activst Awardee
Jennifer Morales, Writer/Editor/Community Activist in Milwaukee

Educator of the Year
Tina Owen, Lead Teacher of The Alliance School in Milwaukee

Engaged and Empowered: The Lieutenant Governor’s Conference on LGBT Youth was a great success!

Approximately 300 school professionals, community leaders, high school students, and university students from around the state were in attendance! One of the highlights of the day was hearing Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton share her passion for justice in her speech.

>>Read the Lieutenant Governer's speech

 GSAFE proudly thanks our donors!

 Alliant Energy Foundation
 Brico Fund
 Brighter Futures
 By Youth for Youth
 New Harvest Foundation
 Madison Metropolitan School  District
 Queer Youth Fund
 Wisconsin Department of Public  Instruction

 We are proud members of Community Shares of Wisconsin!

 Thank you Celebration of Leadership Sponsors!

 Wartmann Chandler Appraisal  Associates
 Alliant Energy
 UW Health American Family  Children’s Hospital & UW Health  Madison Gas & Electric
 Alliant Energy
 Broadway Cares Equity Fights  AIDS
 CUNA Mutual Foundation
 

Know Your Rights!
Did you know Wisconsin has a law that protects students from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation? Check out the 118.13 PSA for ideas on how to get the word out in your school or community. Watch the Video!

So, what do you know about LGBT history?

Magnus Hirschfield was a gay rights activist in the country that was the birthplace of gay rights. Name that country.


Wisconsin was the first in the nation to pass a gay rights law! Who was the governor who signed the bill?


 
Name a famous African American lesbian poet. _________________________

"Boys Don't Cry" is a movie that features which part of the LGBT acronym?

How'd you do? Go to our LGBT History section and find out!

Student Safety
Each student has a right to feel safe and be celebrated. We try to make this happen by

• supporting over 110 Gay Straight Alliances in Wisconsin
• working in partnership with the Department of Public Instruction to lead workshops on LGBT issues and anti-bullying throughout the state for school professionals through Cooperative Education Service Agencies (CESAs)
• partnering with the Madison Metropolitan School District to lead sessions on Bystanders to Allies (B2A), a middle school anti-bullying program developed by Wisconsin Public Television
• supporting policy and legislative changes that increase the safety of LGBT youth

Each gift makes a difference. Thank you for supporting our mission to make schools safe for LGBT students and all youth!

Vision Statement
Gay Straight Alliance for Safe Schools (GSA for Safe Schools) envisions educational systems where all students thrive regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

Mission Statement
GSA for Safe Schools is a public benefit organization committed to safe middle schools and high schools for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender youths and all students.